“Today, the United States Senate took a significant step toward making comprehensive immigration reform a reality by passing legislation with a strong, bipartisan vote of 68-32. The Senate bill is an important compromise: it will open doors of opportunity, while also ensuring the security of our borders. It establishes a pathway to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented people living in our communities, where they are already contributing to our country. It will strengthen our national security, and it will reduce the deficit.

“Never has our border been more secure than it is today, and never has reform of our broken immigration system been more necessary. But any reform must be comprehensive – not piecemeal – and recognize the humanitarian aspect of our immigration challenge, including by addressing the many young ‘DREAMers’ who were brought here as children and have known no home other than the United States. Comprehensive immigration reform also ought to contribute to strengthening our economic competitiveness by making it easier to attract the world’s top talent, as laid out in House Democrats’ Make It In America jobs plan.

“Now it is up to the House to act, and I urge Speaker Boehner and Majority Leader Cantor to allow the full House to work its will and consider comprehensive immigration reform that will grant a pathway to citizenship to law-abiding, undocumented individuals, attract the world’s leading innovators to ensure our economy remains the most dynamic in the world, and make certain that our borders are secure.”